Hickinbotham's 2018 The Nest Cabernet Franc—only the second vintage bottled—aged in 50% new French oak. Winemaker Chris Carpenter says that proportion will be reduced going forward to preserve the wine's cherry blossom and violet characters. This wine is a bit toasty and cedary, then adds floral notes, black cherry fruit and hints of tobacco. More obvious notes of vanilla and mint mark the streamlined, medium to full-bodied palate, which glides into a silky, focused and lengthy finish. Nicely structured, more than rich or voluptuous, this should drink well for a decade or more.

Pale straw colour with some green notes in the rim. Roast nuts, lemon balm and a whiff of struck-flint. Tight and driven on the palate, a bright citrus core flows front to back, with a smoke and mineral savoury line alongside. Quite narrow along the palate but walks the line of tight and skinny very well showing enough weight and concentration through to the finish. A lovely modern example of Yarra Valley chardonnay.

2011 California Cabernet - 10 years onFrom a volcanic site above 730m. Dried flowers, cracked earth and dried mulberry aromas precede similar mouthcoating flavours on a generous, sturdy, broad-textured palate. It is slow to open but evolves considerably with time in the glass, revealing a dense, powerful structure.

2011 California Cabernet - 10 years onSpry and minty nose of incense, cedar, and a subtle note of red bell pepper. Fleshy and round on the palate, showing notes of black plum, cola, and wet gravel. The structure reflects the current state of the vintage, with a rustic, earth-forward tone throughout. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot.

California Syrah: top Mendocino County winesSubtle on the nose at first, then aromas of seaweed, clay and parsley. The palate balances plush richness and sappy intensity through to an expansive, nuanced finish. A blend of Yorkville Highlands vineyards that needs a several years for Mendocino's classic savoury notes to awaken.

California Syrah: top Mendocino County winesInitially muted aromas, so give it time in the glass. The palate is reminiscent of a barbecue with charred earthy mesquite wood notes and grilled black fruit flavours. Energetic on the finish, carrying through the meaty, roasted elements that eventually express themselves on the nose.

This pours beautifully ruby and translucent. The bright nose includes aromas of plum, cherry, mulling spice, white pepper, and scorched earth. Medium-bodied with smooth, velvety tannins that envelope the mouth with smoothness pair well with a nice core of restrained but bright acid. The structure is spot on. The flavor profile leads with brilliant strawberry, blueberry, and red and black plums, but the wine doesn’t give the sensation of fruit-forwardness. There’s a touch of black pepper and licorice as well, and kiwi skin on the finish. Drinking really well now with a short bottle decant.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard was aged for 20 months in French oak, 58% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes prancing out of the glass with gregarious crème de cassis, camphor, wild blueberries and black raspberries notes, plus suggestions of pencil shavings and wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with lively, expressive blue and black fruit flavors, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and layered.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Broken Road Vineyard was aged for 10 months in French oak, 55% new. It explodes from the glass with notes of fresh grapefruit, honeydew melon and pear tart with hints of honeysuckle and almond croissant. Medium to full-bodied with a pleasant oiliness to the texture and a lively backbone, it finishes on a nutty note.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay Bear Point Vineyard was aged for 10 months in French oak, 57% new. It rolls effortlessly out of the glass with bold notes of baked apples, fresh pear and apricots with toasty almonds, spice cake and marzipan in the background. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing with a silky texture and intense flavors, finishing spicy.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Chardonnay was fermented with native yeast in French oak barrels, 38% new, and aged for 15 months. It offers up invigorating scents of lemon curd, yuzu zest and key lime pie with hints of pear drops, fresh hay and toasted almonds. Medium-bodied, elegant, refreshing and with nice harmony, it has a lovely savory palate, going long and yeasty on the finish.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Pinot Noir Truly Rita was aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, 14% new. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, it rolls out of the glass with upfront blackberries, black raspberries and red currants notes with hints of violets, dark chocolate, bay leaves and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied with tons of muscular, taut black berry layers framed by a lively backbone and grainy tannins, it finishes long and savory.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Pinot Noir MacLean's Block was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 32% new. It needs a little swirling to reveal classic notes of black and red cherries, warm raspberries and chocolate box with hints of menthol, tilled loam and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with red berry and earthy layers, supported by soft tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering minty note.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesThe 2018 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard was aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, 29% new. Pale ruby-purple colored, it opens with a lovely seaweed and green tea character over a core of kirsch, Black Forest cake and mulberries with touches of garrigue and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate is both elegant and intense with bold freshness and grainy tannins, finishing with a lingering herbal lift.

USA, California, Napa Valley: More New 2018 ReleasesMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, mainly coming from Stagecoach and Bosché vineyards, the 2018 Pleinair Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 65% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to reveal a compelling nose of fresh blackberries, warm cassis, dark chocolate-covered cherries and mulberries with nuances of pencil lead, scorched earth, violets and tar. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, grainy texture and very refreshing backbone supporting the bags of crunchy black fruit, leading to a long, fragrant finish.

Chateau Lassegue is a Right Bank gem operated by vignerons Pierre and Nicolas Seillan. This, the chateau's flagship wine, is sourced from the hillsides surrounding the chateau and is undoubtedly one of the finest values in Bordeaux today. The 2017 vintage is nearly equal parts merlot and cabernet franc, with a hint of cabernet sauvignon in the blend. The nose offers a hint of violets and spice, leading to a palate that is supple and smooth, with richly layered red-fruit aromas and a subtle note of wood spice. It needs another few years in the cellar to be at its best, but it will be worth the wait.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Merlot is full of savory, mineral intensity that is so distinctive. Black cherry, graphite, dried herbs, lavender, spice and crushed rocks infuse the 2018 with tons of complexity. Far from an easygoing wine, the La Jota Merlot is a serious red that will benefit from cellaring.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair offers a beguiling combination of inky dark fruit and more mineral, savory notes that add complexity. Inky blue/purplish fruit, gravel, sage, mint and lavender all develop with time in the glass. I would prefer to cellar the Pleinair for a year or two, but it is pretty tasty even in the early going just after bottling.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a terrific expression of Oakville in its resonant, enveloping feel. Sweet dark cherry, plum, graphite, mocha, licorice and spice all flesh out in this ample, creamy Cabernet Sauvignon. There is really nicely plushness in the 2017.

Dynamic yet elegant and sleek, with refined cherry, dusky spice and crushed stone accents that take on richness and structure toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2028.

This straw-colored Chardonnay opens with an oak influenced pineapple and vanilla bean bouquet with hints of lemon and honeydew melon. On the palate, this wine is full bodied and nicely balanced between its pleasant acidity and juicy fruits. The flavor profile is a tasty pear and oak blend with notes of roasted almond and baking spices. I also detected some hints of butterscotch and golden delicious apple showing up at the end. The finish is dry and its flavors fade away nicely. This Chardonnay would pair well with Lucia's butternut squash ravioli with a fresh sage and creamy parmesan cheese sauce.

The 2017 Pinot Noir The Sum has pretty scents of saline, prosciutto, potpourri and earth with a core of bright red berry fruit. The palate is delicate, super silky and fresh with floral-laced fruits and a long, elegant finish with loads of lift.

The 2017 Pinot Noir Block 14 has layered aromas of dried cranberries and cherries, blood orange, charcuterie and peppercorn. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and layered with flavors of fruit, earth and spice, with a silky, fresh frame and very long finish.

Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Zena Crown Vineyard has bright, perfumed berry fruits accented by notes of lavender and earth, with more nuances after some time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and mega juicy, with lingering spicy accents defining the uplifted, juicy finish.

The 2018 Pinot Noir Pas de Nom, a barrel selection, has broody notions of graphite, earth and cedar with red and blue berry fruits and touches of salted licorice and tangerine peel. The medium-bodied palate is silky, super fresh and packed to the gills with spicy, earth-laced fruits that linger on the uplifted finish.